Greater Manchester Marathon event was too short

For the last 3 years the Greater Manchester Marathon event course has been 415ft too short and officials have stated that official times of 24,000 runners are void.

A marathon is strictly 26 miles and 385 yards, but it is believed a calibration error was made when an official accredited by the Association of UK Course Measurers checked the course on a measuring bicycle in 2013.

The association said it regretted the error, which means that the runners will have their times voided by athletics’ governing body.

The blunder was revealed in measurements taken in the wake of concerns after last year’s race. It was corrected for this year’s run on April 10.